Footwear Becomes the Locomotive of Exports in the Leather Sector

The Aegean Leather and Leather Products Exporters' Association achieved 120 million dollars in exports in the January-September period of 2026. The footwear sector took a 66 percent share of the region's leather and leather products exports with 79 million dollars in exports. Halil Gündoğdu, Chairman of the Aegean Leather and Leather Products Exporters' Association, drew attention to the growth recorded in the US and Russian markets while evaluating the sector's export performance.

Making assessments regarding the Aegean Region's leather and leather products exports, Gündoğdu noted that exports, which stood at 121 million dollars in the first nine months of 2025, were down 1 percent this year. Stating that leather footwear exports increased by 5.2 percent to reach 62.1 million dollars, Gündoğdu said that leather and fur apparel ranked second with 19.4 million dollars, while leather goods (saddlery) exports amounted to 15.4 million dollars.

Aegean leather sector is growing in the US and Russian markets

In the Aegean Region's leather and leather products exports, Germany ranked first with 14 million dollars. Notable increases were recorded in the US and Russian markets, which followed Germany.

Stating that exports to the US increased by 35 percent, rising from 8.8 million dollars to 12 million dollars, Gündoğdu said that exports to Russia also increased by 47.6 percent, reaching 10.9 million dollars from 7.3 million dollars. These countries were followed by the Netherlands and France.

The leather sector across Türkiye reached 1.1 billion dollars in exports

Emphasizing that the Turkish leather sector largely maintained its export performance despite challenging conditions, Gündoğdu stated that leather and leather products exports across Türkiye reached 1.1 billion dollars.

Footwear exports ranked first across Türkiye with 573 million dollars. Slipper exports increased by 41.2 percent to reach 54 million dollars, becoming one of the sector's standout product groups.

Noting that leather and fur apparel exports rose by 14 percent to 184.8 million dollars, and finished leather and fur exports increased by 13.4 percent to 167.1 million dollars, Gündoğdu stated that developments in these product groups contributed to the sector's export performance.

National participation planned in Italy, trade delegation planned in the US

The Aegean Leather and Leather Products Exporters' Association continues its international trade activities in order to enable exporters to meet new buyers and increase their share in existing markets.

Providing information on the Association's future plans, Gündoğdu announced that they will organize a national participation at the Expo Riva Schuh & Garda Bags Fair to be held in Italy in January 2027, with the participation of 45 companies from the footwear and leather goods sectors.

Gündoğdu stated that they aim to strengthen the sector's growth momentum in this market with a trade delegation planned to be held in New York, USA in April 2027.